By Joe Wilkes
Fall is upon us, which means that the new TV season has begun, baseball is heading into the postseason, and football is starting up. The weather's getting cooler and the couch will soon call for you to lay down in it with a warm blanket. Now keep in mind, we're not encouraging any couch potato behavior. We'd prefer that you pop in a 10-Minute Trainer® video and use the couch as a towel rack. But we're all human, and it's almost impossible to resist the siren song of a playoff game or the return of Dancing with the Stars or Grey's Anatomy. Just because you're taking a couple of hours off to flatten your gluteal muscles and sofa cushions doesn't mean you have to stuff yourself with chips and cookies or other bagged diet killers. Here are 10 tasty and healthy snacks that are great for TV downtime.
Popcorn. It's not just for the movie theater anymore. In fact, you're better off skipping it at the movie theater. A bucket of oil-popped movie theater popcorn can contain as much fat as three to five double cheeseburgers. But air-popped popcorn is a pretty benign treat. Three cups of popcorn have just 93 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Air-popped popcorn doesn't have much nutritive value outside of the energy you may get from the calories and some dietary fiber, but it can satisfy your munchies without getting you too far off the diet path. The best popcorn comes from your own hot-air popper—offering no additional fat or salt, unless you add it later. If you're going for microwave convenience, make sure you read the label carefully. Even some of the "healthy" brands contain a fair amount of fat and salt. And many microwave brands contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been linked to cancer. You might be better off making your own microwave popcorn. Just put a 1/4 cup of popcorn into a brown lunch bag, fold the top over tightly, and microwave at your usual popcorn setting. Try to avoid salt and butter. Instead, enjoy your favorite herbs, or a squeeze of lemon juice with some garlic powder or cayenne pepper.
Bean dip. Beans are a great source of protein and fiber and don't have tons of calories. One cup of canned pintos only has 206 calories; it also has 12 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber—almost half of your recommended daily allowance. And beans are incredibly filling. Even prepackaged bean dips are pretty decent (of course, always check the label for the fat and sodium contents). You can make your own dips, hot or cold, by food-processing canned black or pinto beans (my favorites are the ones canned with jalapeños). Add water to create your desired consistency, or you can also use fat-free refried beans. You could add some chopped bell or jalapeño peppers, green onions, or canned corn to add a crunchy texture or some chopped tomatoes for a little extra flavor and vitamins. Instead of fatty tortilla chips, use baked chips or, better yet, some raw, crunchy veggies, like carrots, celery, sliced bell peppers, broccoli, or cauliflower.
Salsa. This is the perfect mix of tomatoes, onions, and peppers—all members of the top tier of Michi's Ladder. And the great thing is that salsa is so low in calories and so high in fiber, you can basically eat it by the cupful and not gain weight. If you buy it at the store though, watch out for the salt content—that's the secret ingredient in most canned and jarred salsas. You're much better off making your own pico de gallo. Just dice tomatoes and onions and mix with as much minced jalapeño and/or garlic as you can stand. Add fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste and toss the veggies in the juice of two limes. Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. You can eat it with baked chips or the crunchy veggies that also go great with the bean dip. The salsa and the bean dip also complement each other well, for the double dippers among us.
Crispbread crackers. These crunchy treats (including Wasa and Rykrisp brands) have around 30 calories a cracker (depending on the brand, flavor, and style) and a couple of grams of fiber in each one. For the Top Chef in you, they make great bases for some healthy ingredients from your refrigerator. Try a dollop of fat-free cottage cheese with a dash of hot sauce; a slice of turkey breast and roasted red pepper; a "schmear" of hummus and a couple of pitted olives; or a slice of tomato and a fresh basil leaf with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Even the pico de gallo recipe above with some shredded nonfat cheddar will make a tasty treat. By being creative with some wholesome ingredients, you'll forget all about the halcyon days of eating Ritz crackers washed down with aerosol cheese right from the can (sigh).
Pistachios. Pistachios are a great heart-healthy snack full of antioxidants, fiber, and unsaturated fats (the good kind). A 1/2-cup serving (with the shells, assuming you don't eat them) only has 170 calories, with 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber; however, that serving also has 14 grams of fat, so don't go nuts chowing down on a whole bag. Walnuts, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, and other nuts all have their nutritional upsides, too, but the reason I think pistachios make great snacks are the shells. The shells are difficult to open, so rather than shoveling handfuls of pre-shelled nuts down your throat, eat shelled pistachios so that you're forced to slow down. Keep an eye on the sodium content when you buy the nuts. Either buy unsalted or low-salt versions. And forget those disgusting pink ones that taste like lipstick. Who needs to leave hot-pink fingerprints all over the couch? A lot of stores also sell flavored versions that aren't too salty. Chili-lime is one of my favorite flavors.
Edamame. The Japanese have one of the healthiest diets in the world and soybeans are a great staple of that diet. Edamame, the steamed or boiled soybean pods, contain all the essential amino acids, many essential fatty acids, and soy isoflavones. And a 1/2 cup of beans only contains 100 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 9 grams of carbs, with 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. Truly one of nature's perfect foods. And like pistachios, you can serve them in their shells, which slows down your face stuffing, giving you time to feel full before you've overeaten.
Mini-pizzas. Forget the frozen food section. Anyone with a toaster oven or a broiler pan can be his or her own Mama Celeste or Chef Boy-ar-dee. Just take half of a whole wheat English muffin (67 calories; 2 grams of fiber), add a little tomato sauce or low-sodium pizza or spaghetti sauce and a sprinkle of low-fat or nonfat mozzarella cheese, and voilà—tasty and healthy pizza! As with the crispbread crackers, your imagination's the only limit for toppings. Fresh herbs like basil and oregano are delicious. Peppers, mushrooms, and anchovies are popular and fairly healthy. Just stay away from processed meats like pepperoni, which are often loaded with saturated fat, carcinogenic nitrates, and sodium.
Pita chips and hummus. Now you can open a Greek taverna in your living room. While some stores sell pita chips now, you can easily make your own with very little fuss and muss (and usually with much less fat and salt). A large whole wheat pita has 170 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and less than 2 grams of fat. To make chips, cut around the edge of the pita with a small paring knife, so you have two discs. Then with a knife or pizza cutter, cut the discs into eighths or smaller chip-size pieces. Arrange the pieces on an aluminum-foil-covered cookie sheet, lightly spray with some olive oil cooking spray, and sprinkle with a little salt or low-fat Parmesan cheese or your favorite dried herbs. Cook in the oven or toaster oven until lightly browned and crispy and serve with your favorite hummus or dip recipe. (Read "4 Hearty and Healthy Dips" in Related Articles below for a hummus recipe and some other healthy dip ideas.)
Relish tray. Some of my favorite snacks are pickled or brined anything—cucumbers, cauliflower, peppers, artichoke hearts, carrots, okra, baby corn, cornichons, cocktail onions, olives, sauerkraut, kimchi . . . even herring and hard-boiled eggs! Extremely low in calories, a plate full of pickled veggies on the coffee table is great for snacking. But watch out for the sodium! Certain store brands have more than others. The more ambitious might try marinating their fresh veggies in vinegar and a little heart-healthy olive oil, to control the amount of salt involved. If you use salty brands, you might consider rinsing them to get rid of some of the salt or mixing them on a plate with some fresh, unpickled vegetables to mitigate the salt intake.
Deviled eggs. Eggs, having once been considered a scourge of the heart-healthy diet, are now getting a better rap (read "The Good, the Bad, and the Eggly" for more on the ins and outs of eggs—see Related Articles below). What's indisputable is the health value of the whites. If you take the yolks out of the equation, the egg whites can prove to be small, healthy, high-protein delivery systems suitable for all kinds of nutritious creamy fillings. Cut a bunch of hard-boiled eggs in half, lengthwise, and scoop out and discard the yolks. Try mixing some nonfat cottage cheese with your favorite mix of mustard, curry powder, garlic, paprika, pepper, salt, or other spices and blending or food-processing until creamy. Spoon or pipe the mixture into the egg whites where the yolks used to be and you'll have a high-protein snack without the fat and cholesterol. You can also use the empty egg whites as scoops for your favorite healthy dip or salsa.
Of course, you can enjoy even more snack food if you can work some exercise into your TV watching. During playoff season, don't just save the stretching for the seventh inning. Try some exercises like Debbie Siebers' Slim in 6® Slim and Limber throughout the game. Or if you're settling in for a night in front of the tube, make a deal with yourself—you can veg out and watch The Office and 30 Rock if you turn off ER (come on, you can catch the entire series on DVD soon enough) and do Shaun T's Hip Hop Abs® Fat Burning Cardio instead. If you watch a show like Heroes that motivates you to kick some butt, schedule some KenpoX or Turbo Jam® time immediately after the show while your adrenaline's still pumping. Or if, like me, you've become enslaved to your DVR or TiVo, use it to your advantage and do a cooldown stretch to your favorite show as a reward for a well-done workout.A high-fiber diet has been found to help prevent many different types of cancer.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Big Breakfasts for Big Results
An interesting article that I came across:
By Joe Wilkes
Breakfast. It seems like forever since we've been told it's the most important meal of the day, but a recent study shows that it's actually true and not just Mom having been a nag. Breakfast is a key component of weight management. A study presented at the recent Endocrine Society's annual meeting showed that participants who consumed large breakfasts lost almost five times as much weight as the participants who followed a traditional diet. So what's the big deal about breakfast? And what is a big breakfast anyway? It doesn't seem like the lumberjack special at the local diner would do much to get the pounds off, so what should we be eating?
The study supported the idea that when we wake up in the morning, our bodies want food. You've burned through all the fuel from the previous day, and now your body is ready to burn anything, like muscle, to get a jump-start on the day. And if you skip breakfast, muscle is indeed what your body will burn. Later in the day, your brain is still in starvation mode from breakfast (or lack thereof), so your body will store all the calories you eat as adipose tissue, or fat, to save up for the next day when you try to starve it again. The study also found that serotonin (the chemical responsible for controlling cravings) levels were much higher in the morning, which is why breakfast is the meal so many of us are willing to skip. But if our bodies are left unfed, our serotonin levels drop, and the cravings for sweets begin to rise throughout the day.
Now, before you hit McDonald's for their 800-calorie Big Breakfast or, worse, their 1,150-calorie Deluxe Breakfast, or you swing by Denny's for a 740-calorie Grand Slam or 950-calorie All-American Slam with hash browns, keep in mind these were not the breakfasts the study participants consumed. The big-breakfast group had a 610-calorie breakfast as part of a 1,240-calorie day. Breakfasts included milk, lean meat (sorry, no bacon or sausage), cheese, whole grains, a serving of healthy fat, and one ounce of chocolate or candy to defray the sweets cravings. The other group's participants consumed 1,080 calories per day as part of a high-protein, low-carb diet. Both groups were on the diet for 8 months. The high-protein group lost an average of 9 pounds but the big-breakfast group lost an average of 40 pounds. And perhaps not surprisingly, the big-breakfast group complained less about cravings and hunger.
The big-breakfast group's breakfast consisted of 58 grams of carbs, 47 grams of protein, and 22 grams of fat. Study reviewers attribute some of the success of the big-breakfast group to the fact that the protein and healthy fats eaten kept the participants full and reduced cravings. They also said that nutritional requirements were well met, that there weren't empty calories consumed, as the breakfasts included lots of whole grains, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy unsaturated fats. So, bad news for the lumberjack-special devotees—a big plate of greasy hash browns, bacon, and biscuits with gravy isn't going to get the job done, unless the job is clogging your arteries.
Here are some healthy big-breakfasts, like the ones consumed by the study participants.
Chicken and the Egg
2 eggs, scrambled
2 slices whole wheat toast
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, roasted
1 grapefruit
602 calories, 54 grams carbohydrates, 51 grams protein, 19 grams fat
Low-Fat Breakfast
1 packet instant oatmeal with 1 scoop protein powder
1 cup blueberries
3 oz. turkey breast
1 hard-boiled egg
1 oz. dark chocolate
633 calories, 66 grams carbohydrates, 48 grams protein, 12 grams fat
Two Egg Sandwiches
2 whole wheat English muffins
2 poached eggs
2 slices low-fat Swiss cheese
2 slices Canadian bacon
599 calories, 58 grams carbohydrates, 62 grams protein, 18 grams fat
Vegetarian Breakfast
1 cup cottage cheese (2% milk fat)
1 cup canned peaches in their own juice
1 slice whole wheat toast
1/2 avocado
2 vegetarian sausage links
630 calories, 61 grams carbohydrates, 48 grams protein, 22 grams fat
Pescetarian Breakfast
1 can light tuna
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise (preferably canola or olive oil based)
2 slices whole wheat toast
1 oz. dark chocolate
606 calories, 49 grams carbohydrates, 50 grams protein, 22 grams fat
By Joe Wilkes
Breakfast. It seems like forever since we've been told it's the most important meal of the day, but a recent study shows that it's actually true and not just Mom having been a nag. Breakfast is a key component of weight management. A study presented at the recent Endocrine Society's annual meeting showed that participants who consumed large breakfasts lost almost five times as much weight as the participants who followed a traditional diet. So what's the big deal about breakfast? And what is a big breakfast anyway? It doesn't seem like the lumberjack special at the local diner would do much to get the pounds off, so what should we be eating?
The study supported the idea that when we wake up in the morning, our bodies want food. You've burned through all the fuel from the previous day, and now your body is ready to burn anything, like muscle, to get a jump-start on the day. And if you skip breakfast, muscle is indeed what your body will burn. Later in the day, your brain is still in starvation mode from breakfast (or lack thereof), so your body will store all the calories you eat as adipose tissue, or fat, to save up for the next day when you try to starve it again. The study also found that serotonin (the chemical responsible for controlling cravings) levels were much higher in the morning, which is why breakfast is the meal so many of us are willing to skip. But if our bodies are left unfed, our serotonin levels drop, and the cravings for sweets begin to rise throughout the day.
Now, before you hit McDonald's for their 800-calorie Big Breakfast or, worse, their 1,150-calorie Deluxe Breakfast, or you swing by Denny's for a 740-calorie Grand Slam or 950-calorie All-American Slam with hash browns, keep in mind these were not the breakfasts the study participants consumed. The big-breakfast group had a 610-calorie breakfast as part of a 1,240-calorie day. Breakfasts included milk, lean meat (sorry, no bacon or sausage), cheese, whole grains, a serving of healthy fat, and one ounce of chocolate or candy to defray the sweets cravings. The other group's participants consumed 1,080 calories per day as part of a high-protein, low-carb diet. Both groups were on the diet for 8 months. The high-protein group lost an average of 9 pounds but the big-breakfast group lost an average of 40 pounds. And perhaps not surprisingly, the big-breakfast group complained less about cravings and hunger.
The big-breakfast group's breakfast consisted of 58 grams of carbs, 47 grams of protein, and 22 grams of fat. Study reviewers attribute some of the success of the big-breakfast group to the fact that the protein and healthy fats eaten kept the participants full and reduced cravings. They also said that nutritional requirements were well met, that there weren't empty calories consumed, as the breakfasts included lots of whole grains, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy unsaturated fats. So, bad news for the lumberjack-special devotees—a big plate of greasy hash browns, bacon, and biscuits with gravy isn't going to get the job done, unless the job is clogging your arteries.
Here are some healthy big-breakfasts, like the ones consumed by the study participants.
Chicken and the Egg
2 eggs, scrambled
2 slices whole wheat toast
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, roasted
1 grapefruit
602 calories, 54 grams carbohydrates, 51 grams protein, 19 grams fat
Low-Fat Breakfast
1 packet instant oatmeal with 1 scoop protein powder
1 cup blueberries
3 oz. turkey breast
1 hard-boiled egg
1 oz. dark chocolate
633 calories, 66 grams carbohydrates, 48 grams protein, 12 grams fat
Two Egg Sandwiches
2 whole wheat English muffins
2 poached eggs
2 slices low-fat Swiss cheese
2 slices Canadian bacon
599 calories, 58 grams carbohydrates, 62 grams protein, 18 grams fat
Vegetarian Breakfast
1 cup cottage cheese (2% milk fat)
1 cup canned peaches in their own juice
1 slice whole wheat toast
1/2 avocado
2 vegetarian sausage links
630 calories, 61 grams carbohydrates, 48 grams protein, 22 grams fat
Pescetarian Breakfast
1 can light tuna
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise (preferably canola or olive oil based)
2 slices whole wheat toast
1 oz. dark chocolate
606 calories, 49 grams carbohydrates, 50 grams protein, 22 grams fat
The one thing that this article doesn't really mention is the effect the big breakfast has on your metabolism. I keep hearing things such as drinking a 16oz glass of ice water in the morning kick starts the metabolism for the entire day - the body has to warm the water. Personally, I know that when I work out first thing in the morning I feel like I'm in high gear all day. When I don't I'm in low gear. I would guess that the large breakfast would have the same result, plus adding some fuel to the fire. The counter point would be the need for a nap after a large lunch. I'll go with the experts, and from my own experience working out, and eating right in the morning starts my day off on the right foot.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
10 Tiny Changes for Big Weight Loss
Take baby steps to eat healthier. If you "slip," get immediately back on track. Never let a vacation or a special holiday be an excuse to overdo it the entire time. Go ahead, enjoy the occasional indulgence, but keep it reasonable. Here are 10 tiny changes you can make for big weight loss.
1. Wait 2 minutes. Cravings will disappear after two minutes if you walk away and turn your attention elsewhere.
2. W.I.W.M. When you really crave something unhealthy, answer this question: "What do I Want More," that piece of chocolate cake, or a body I feel proud of? And on rare occasions, it's okay to pick the chocolate cake!
3. No one's perfect. Don't allow one bad choice to result in bingeing the rest of the day, or falling back into old habits.
4. Focus. Make eating purposeful, not something mindless to do while watching TV, driving, or sitting in front of the computer. Whenever you put food in your mouth, try to engage all of the senses in the pleasure of nourishing your body.
5. Don't skip breakfast. Start eating a filling breakfast, but one that's lower in fat. It will help you eat fewer total calories throughout the day.
6. Veggies. Most of your plate should have veggies and/or fruit on it at both lunch and dinner.
7. See what you eat. Eat your food off of a plate instead of straight out of a jar, bag, or box.
8. Don't buy it. Stop buying the food you snack on all day. Just eliminate the temptation.
9. Eat more fruit. A person who gets enough fruit in their diet doesn't have a raging sweet tooth.
10. Watch what you drink. Cut back on or cut out high-calorie drinks like soda, sweet tea, lemonade, and especially alcohol. People have lost weight by just making this one change.
1. Wait 2 minutes. Cravings will disappear after two minutes if you walk away and turn your attention elsewhere.
2. W.I.W.M. When you really crave something unhealthy, answer this question: "What do I Want More," that piece of chocolate cake, or a body I feel proud of? And on rare occasions, it's okay to pick the chocolate cake!
3. No one's perfect. Don't allow one bad choice to result in bingeing the rest of the day, or falling back into old habits.
4. Focus. Make eating purposeful, not something mindless to do while watching TV, driving, or sitting in front of the computer. Whenever you put food in your mouth, try to engage all of the senses in the pleasure of nourishing your body.
5. Don't skip breakfast. Start eating a filling breakfast, but one that's lower in fat. It will help you eat fewer total calories throughout the day.
6. Veggies. Most of your plate should have veggies and/or fruit on it at both lunch and dinner.
7. See what you eat. Eat your food off of a plate instead of straight out of a jar, bag, or box.
8. Don't buy it. Stop buying the food you snack on all day. Just eliminate the temptation.
9. Eat more fruit. A person who gets enough fruit in their diet doesn't have a raging sweet tooth.
10. Watch what you drink. Cut back on or cut out high-calorie drinks like soda, sweet tea, lemonade, and especially alcohol. People have lost weight by just making this one change.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Let's Do That Again!
Hi all! Just finishing up my second 90 day round of P90X! Still pushing play everyday, still eating right for the most part, and still sweating. I've made that mental leap that is so difficult at first. My reasons for not exercising where the usual, all circulating around just not enough time in the day. I've gotten past that and put my priorities in place. Its also amazing how much more time I have now that I'm jumping out of bed early in the morning, eating six meals a day, and continuing to do everything that I did in the past, plus maybe a bit more. Quitting smoking probably added in the most time to my day, as well as my life.
I dropped down to a low of 190 lbs during this phase, 35lbs from where I started at the beginning of February, believe it or not, I thought I was too skinny. Fortunately, the dairy down the street has the world's best ice cream, and just as fortunately, they are only open in the summer. I'm now maintaining my ideal weight range of 195-200lbs. When I hit 200lbs, I buy the kids Italian ice to eat at home, when I hit 195 lbs its off to the dairy we go. Otherwise, I maintain my normal balanced diet with one cheat day per week. I'm not a big advocate of scale watching, especially for those early into any exercise program, but after 6 months, my system is pretty stable. I do watch the fat caliper for the most part, and sticking in the 9-11% range is where I look and feel the best.
This week is another recovery week for me, which means no weights, and lots of stretching. I had gone from 8 pull ups per hour to 200 pull ups per hour, and 3 pull ups in one set to 28 pull ups in one set. But now, I'm suffering from a nasty case of tendinitis for almost 4 weeks. I keep thinking it is gone, and then a s soon as I push it starts me back at day one, so a two weeks away from pull ups and curls should do the elbow some good. After this extended recovery period, I am going on to the the X+, and instead of the classic, my wife and I are going for the lean routine. At my age, there really isn't any need for me to keep adding muscle, unless I just want to keep buying clothes, so lean it is to help our fitness levels even further.
Wish us luck!
I really haven't mentioned much about my wife Melissa's progress. She's a bit shy when it comes to posting her photos or results, so we'll just say that she is definitely in the best shape of her life and her photos really prove the effort. Her results on the scale are like most women's in the first 90 days, disappointing. But she has dropped nearly 10% body fat and it shows!
Lastly, I am loving being a Beach Body coach! Sure the discount and commission are nice and help to make this program free, and now even profitable, but the biggest thing for me is the motivation that I get by helping others. I think it has helped me get past that thought this is a 90 day program and it is truly a life long routine. I love it!
I dropped down to a low of 190 lbs during this phase, 35lbs from where I started at the beginning of February, believe it or not, I thought I was too skinny. Fortunately, the dairy down the street has the world's best ice cream, and just as fortunately, they are only open in the summer. I'm now maintaining my ideal weight range of 195-200lbs. When I hit 200lbs, I buy the kids Italian ice to eat at home, when I hit 195 lbs its off to the dairy we go. Otherwise, I maintain my normal balanced diet with one cheat day per week. I'm not a big advocate of scale watching, especially for those early into any exercise program, but after 6 months, my system is pretty stable. I do watch the fat caliper for the most part, and sticking in the 9-11% range is where I look and feel the best.
This week is another recovery week for me, which means no weights, and lots of stretching. I had gone from 8 pull ups per hour to 200 pull ups per hour, and 3 pull ups in one set to 28 pull ups in one set. But now, I'm suffering from a nasty case of tendinitis for almost 4 weeks. I keep thinking it is gone, and then a s soon as I push it starts me back at day one, so a two weeks away from pull ups and curls should do the elbow some good. After this extended recovery period, I am going on to the the X+, and instead of the classic, my wife and I are going for the lean routine. At my age, there really isn't any need for me to keep adding muscle, unless I just want to keep buying clothes, so lean it is to help our fitness levels even further.
Wish us luck!
I really haven't mentioned much about my wife Melissa's progress. She's a bit shy when it comes to posting her photos or results, so we'll just say that she is definitely in the best shape of her life and her photos really prove the effort. Her results on the scale are like most women's in the first 90 days, disappointing. But she has dropped nearly 10% body fat and it shows!
Lastly, I am loving being a Beach Body coach! Sure the discount and commission are nice and help to make this program free, and now even profitable, but the biggest thing for me is the motivation that I get by helping others. I think it has helped me get past that thought this is a 90 day program and it is truly a life long routine. I love it!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
How Do I Keep Going?
Thought I'd open this week with this article by Tony Horton:
Here's a question people ask me: "I'm finding that my exercise routine is very intense and I'm seeing the benefits on day 1, so what can I do to stay motivated and keep going?"
Most folks struggle with motivation every day. I'm one of them. Motivation can be broken down into a few subcategories. My fifth Law of Health and Fitness is "Loving It." Progress and motivation are possible if you look forward to your workouts. They have to be challenging and interesting to you. If you despise them before you start them, you're not going to survive them for very long. If your reasons why are meaningful to you, then staying motivated is easier. I'm always promoting health, fitness, quality of life, and feeling good as reasons to get and stay motivated. Not to say that a person's goal to lose weight or fit into smaller clothes isn't motivating—it's just that when these goals are obtained then new ones need to come into play.
When the numbers on your scale and measuring tape are low enough to make you happy then it's important to start to explore some new numbers. I'm talking about numbers that relate to ability, improvement, and achievement. Your physical appearance will improve at a more rapid rate if you can start to exercise with your focus on power, speed, and strength. This mind set applies to both men and women. This means that your motivation comes from your desire to "Bring It" during exercise at home and out in the world. Let your P90X® or Power 90® workouts trigger something new and bigger than anything you've done before. For me it's skiing and gymnastics. For you it could be anything that pushes you beyond the confines of repeating the same workouts the same way, day after day.
Kind of sums up where I am presently....except for of course the gymnastics part. If it wasn't for being a coach not sure I would be doing as well as I am. The peak performance on the hockey rink is there, guys my age and younger wish they had my speed, energy, and stamina. Still pushing play to do the same routine daily does get tiring when you've reached your goals. I still ove the workouts, and I jump out of bed to do them everyday, but sometimes I feel like I'm just going thru the motions.
I need a new goal - so please comment if you have an idea. I have 7 weeks left in Round 2, then I plan on going to the P90X+ routines that are sitting on my desk - need to stick with P90X for the time being to help my wife get through her first round - she is doing great and I'm really proud of her, so it has helped me. I really just need a good reason to push myself more within the current routine.
Here's a question people ask me: "I'm finding that my exercise routine is very intense and I'm seeing the benefits on day 1, so what can I do to stay motivated and keep going?"
Most folks struggle with motivation every day. I'm one of them. Motivation can be broken down into a few subcategories. My fifth Law of Health and Fitness is "Loving It." Progress and motivation are possible if you look forward to your workouts. They have to be challenging and interesting to you. If you despise them before you start them, you're not going to survive them for very long. If your reasons why are meaningful to you, then staying motivated is easier. I'm always promoting health, fitness, quality of life, and feeling good as reasons to get and stay motivated. Not to say that a person's goal to lose weight or fit into smaller clothes isn't motivating—it's just that when these goals are obtained then new ones need to come into play.
When the numbers on your scale and measuring tape are low enough to make you happy then it's important to start to explore some new numbers. I'm talking about numbers that relate to ability, improvement, and achievement. Your physical appearance will improve at a more rapid rate if you can start to exercise with your focus on power, speed, and strength. This mind set applies to both men and women. This means that your motivation comes from your desire to "Bring It" during exercise at home and out in the world. Let your P90X® or Power 90® workouts trigger something new and bigger than anything you've done before. For me it's skiing and gymnastics. For you it could be anything that pushes you beyond the confines of repeating the same workouts the same way, day after day.
Kind of sums up where I am presently....except for of course the gymnastics part. If it wasn't for being a coach not sure I would be doing as well as I am. The peak performance on the hockey rink is there, guys my age and younger wish they had my speed, energy, and stamina. Still pushing play to do the same routine daily does get tiring when you've reached your goals. I still ove the workouts, and I jump out of bed to do them everyday, but sometimes I feel like I'm just going thru the motions.
I need a new goal - so please comment if you have an idea. I have 7 weeks left in Round 2, then I plan on going to the P90X+ routines that are sitting on my desk - need to stick with P90X for the time being to help my wife get through her first round - she is doing great and I'm really proud of her, so it has helped me. I really just need a good reason to push myself more within the current routine.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Goal Setting and Competition
Continuing on with my motivation seeking quest, last week I discussed Becoming a Role Model and how it is has helped me. Now I'd like to discuss goals and competition. Each of us has different drivers, usually we're pretty close to the same. Some people will try to win at any costs, while others will give up if they feel they don't have a chance, and most of us lie somewhere in between. The same thing can be said for goals, if they are set higher than you believe you can reach, you may be the type of person who doesn't try at all.
Fortunately, as far as getting fit is concerned, you can set your own goals. Notice, I said getting fit, I'm really trying to remove "weight loss" from my vocabulary - its really immaterial, if you lose 10-15% body fat, but your weight remains the same then it is a huge win; however, we have been so programmed to think in terms of the results on the scale that we are disappointed. I know, weight loss is a huge business and we have a lot of marketing to overcome. But, if you reach your goal of becoming skinny fat and stop dieting, research proves you are just going to become fatter than you were before you started dieting - the yo yo affect. So for this discussion at least, I am focusing on "getting fit".
As a coach, I like to help people experience the feeling of winning a few before stretching them past a point that they believe is attainable. Logging each workout's results is a great way of doing this - How many push ups/pull ups/sit ups did you do last week? Let's beat that number by 1 or by 2 or by 10. Weekly progress builds confidence and helps overcome the frustration which leads to the end of the fitness quest. Many of us expect to see 90 day results in one week, we feel sore, so this must be working. It didn't take one week to get we were/are in the first place. Goal setting needs to be viewed in the long term as well. Where do you want to be at the end of the program? I had a goal of getting below 10% by the end of the program. This was by definition a great goal - it was an actual measurable number, it was attainable, and it had a set deadline. Try to make one for yourself. I strongly urge against weight loss goals, only because it can fluctuate with so many variables - water weight, etc. Fat % is great, but instead it could just be inches off the waist. Incidentally, I did miss my P90X round one goal by one week, yes, I had a really great excuse Disaster Relief, but still I know I could have done better.
My current goal is to do 160 pull ups in my Friday Legs/Back routine by the end of this round of P90X. A good goal - attainable, measurable, and time constrained. However, it may be light and therefore may not push me - after week 2 of 12, I'm already at 146 pull ups. I'm at that point where I need a new long term goal - I'm starting to consider something like "Be at this % body fat on my 44th birthday in November". I'm not sure though, how motivating a maintenance goal will be for me, but I have realized that deep down I am starting to struggle with the future of my fitness. I came to this realization last night while shopping for new shorts - the old 36" to 38" shorts that I was wearing last summer won't work. I went to the dressing room with a pair of 32's just for fun, figuring okay these won't even be close to buttoning. I'm wearing them now, however, they are really too big!! I settled for a long term result that I thought I could maintain. Yes, I'm a little upset with my lack of confidence. I fit into 30's, so why shouldn't I be wearing those today? The answer is that I should be, but I'm starting to doubt my motivation; hence, this blog.
Competition is what I really need. I happen to be one of those people that has to win. In round 1, I had a great competition going with fellow first timers, I don't have that group at the moment. Beachbody has a great competition going all the time, but I haven't bought into it yet for some reason. If I felt I could win it, I would! But I still don't understand it enough. So that is where I'm going to force myself to go next, and to do so, I need to, like a goal, have a finish line and a timeline, as well as believe it is attainable.
So what is your motivation - are you self-driven, do you need somebody pushing you, or like me, do you need to win or need to push others?
Fortunately, as far as getting fit is concerned, you can set your own goals. Notice, I said getting fit, I'm really trying to remove "weight loss" from my vocabulary - its really immaterial, if you lose 10-15% body fat, but your weight remains the same then it is a huge win; however, we have been so programmed to think in terms of the results on the scale that we are disappointed. I know, weight loss is a huge business and we have a lot of marketing to overcome. But, if you reach your goal of becoming skinny fat and stop dieting, research proves you are just going to become fatter than you were before you started dieting - the yo yo affect. So for this discussion at least, I am focusing on "getting fit".
As a coach, I like to help people experience the feeling of winning a few before stretching them past a point that they believe is attainable. Logging each workout's results is a great way of doing this - How many push ups/pull ups/sit ups did you do last week? Let's beat that number by 1 or by 2 or by 10. Weekly progress builds confidence and helps overcome the frustration which leads to the end of the fitness quest. Many of us expect to see 90 day results in one week, we feel sore, so this must be working. It didn't take one week to get we were/are in the first place. Goal setting needs to be viewed in the long term as well. Where do you want to be at the end of the program? I had a goal of getting below 10% by the end of the program. This was by definition a great goal - it was an actual measurable number, it was attainable, and it had a set deadline. Try to make one for yourself. I strongly urge against weight loss goals, only because it can fluctuate with so many variables - water weight, etc. Fat % is great, but instead it could just be inches off the waist. Incidentally, I did miss my P90X round one goal by one week, yes, I had a really great excuse Disaster Relief, but still I know I could have done better.
My current goal is to do 160 pull ups in my Friday Legs/Back routine by the end of this round of P90X. A good goal - attainable, measurable, and time constrained. However, it may be light and therefore may not push me - after week 2 of 12, I'm already at 146 pull ups. I'm at that point where I need a new long term goal - I'm starting to consider something like "Be at this % body fat on my 44th birthday in November". I'm not sure though, how motivating a maintenance goal will be for me, but I have realized that deep down I am starting to struggle with the future of my fitness. I came to this realization last night while shopping for new shorts - the old 36" to 38" shorts that I was wearing last summer won't work. I went to the dressing room with a pair of 32's just for fun, figuring okay these won't even be close to buttoning. I'm wearing them now, however, they are really too big!! I settled for a long term result that I thought I could maintain. Yes, I'm a little upset with my lack of confidence. I fit into 30's, so why shouldn't I be wearing those today? The answer is that I should be, but I'm starting to doubt my motivation; hence, this blog.
Competition is what I really need. I happen to be one of those people that has to win. In round 1, I had a great competition going with fellow first timers, I don't have that group at the moment. Beachbody has a great competition going all the time, but I haven't bought into it yet for some reason. If I felt I could win it, I would! But I still don't understand it enough. So that is where I'm going to force myself to go next, and to do so, I need to, like a goal, have a finish line and a timeline, as well as believe it is attainable.
So what is your motivation - are you self-driven, do you need somebody pushing you, or like me, do you need to win or need to push others?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Become a Role Model!
Debbie Siebers - "Stuck in a rut? Why not try being a role model for someone else? Sometimes putting yourself into this position is just what you need to kick-start your own motivation. It is amazing how much you affect everyone around you in such a positive way when you're making changes, especially to your health and the way you look. Taking the responsibility to help someone else—because you know you will—will also inspire you to do your best. The realization that you can motivate and inspire others is powerful medicine. Use it! You'll make the world around you a better place."
For me this has been great advice! I'm all about accountability, as this blog proves ( do any of us want people to see us at our worst?). I think it would be hard to take fitness advice from somebody that looked like me back in January 2008. Since I became a coach last month, I have really turned it up a notch. It has helped me get past that 60 day point in my first 90 days when I was knocking at the door of my goals and losing my motivation and intensity.
Now, in round two, I have really moved into another level of "bringing it". My intensity in each workout is at its peak and I owe it all to being a role model for others. I truly am struggling at the moment to find a personal goal - I've passed my intial goal of dropping below 10% body fat by dropping thirty pounds - it did take me 13 weeks, but that week in Kansas for Disaster Relief living on chicken fried steak was a forgiveable setback. Now with my wife going through round one, as I go through round two, I really can't let up. I'm sure that wouldn't help her. As a side benefit, I now also have enough clients under me that the entire program, including my recovery drink, supplements, and protein bars are free.....there goes the tax write-off!
Currently, I'm setting a goal of twenty pull ups in each set. On my legs/back workout there are eight sets of pull ups. I'm currently at one hundred and twenty for the workout, pretty good, considering in week one, I was able to eight. My first set is also a very strong twenty-four pull ups, much better than the twelve I had to do for Marines twenty-five years ago.
If you would like to be a role model for somebody else, please take a look at my links over on the right. Here's the one to get you started: Become a Coach or if you'd like even more information: http://startafitnessbusiness.com/jeff/
For me this has been great advice! I'm all about accountability, as this blog proves ( do any of us want people to see us at our worst?). I think it would be hard to take fitness advice from somebody that looked like me back in January 2008. Since I became a coach last month, I have really turned it up a notch. It has helped me get past that 60 day point in my first 90 days when I was knocking at the door of my goals and losing my motivation and intensity.
Now, in round two, I have really moved into another level of "bringing it". My intensity in each workout is at its peak and I owe it all to being a role model for others. I truly am struggling at the moment to find a personal goal - I've passed my intial goal of dropping below 10% body fat by dropping thirty pounds - it did take me 13 weeks, but that week in Kansas for Disaster Relief living on chicken fried steak was a forgiveable setback. Now with my wife going through round one, as I go through round two, I really can't let up. I'm sure that wouldn't help her. As a side benefit, I now also have enough clients under me that the entire program, including my recovery drink, supplements, and protein bars are free.....there goes the tax write-off!
Currently, I'm setting a goal of twenty pull ups in each set. On my legs/back workout there are eight sets of pull ups. I'm currently at one hundred and twenty for the workout, pretty good, considering in week one, I was able to eight. My first set is also a very strong twenty-four pull ups, much better than the twelve I had to do for Marines twenty-five years ago.
If you would like to be a role model for somebody else, please take a look at my links over on the right. Here's the one to get you started: Become a Coach or if you'd like even more information: http://startafitnessbusiness.com/jeff/
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